Theoretical foundations of the poaching study: problems of legal regulation

Abstract

The paper is concerned with theoretical and practical aspects of the poaching phenomenon as national and transnational environmental crime. It critically examines Russian legislation on the use of biological resources in general and countering poaching in particular and presents a review of research con-ducted internationally and in Russia as well as statistical data provided by international organizations and state bodies of the Russian Federation. It also defines the concept of poaching and its legal characteristics, highlights key challenges to countering poaching both within Russia and at the transnational level. Particular emphasis is placed on poaching across the Russia-China border adjacent to the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts which ac-count for the rarest flora and fauna species in Russia. The paper outlines challenges to regulating federal anti-poaching legislation and current pitfalls in combating illicit trafficking of species at the state level. It considers op-posing viewpoints of researchers engaged in this field, their strengths and weaknesses, and suggests possible solutions to the identified problems. The paper concludes that methods of combating poaching are still underdeveloped and require certain legislative improvements at the level of national legislation and international cooperation.л.